3'J6 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



THE DAIRY CATTLE. 



The dairy cattle are making a steady improvement year by year. It 

 is especially gratifying to see the increase in the number of Iowa en- 

 tries. There are more entries, however, from outside the state than 

 in the state. The Holstein and Guernsey exhibits were unusually good. 

 The Jersey entries all came from outside the state, and the show was 

 scarcely up to standard either in numbers or quality. 'Ayrshires, 

 Brown Swiss, and Dutch Belted gave variety. From the spectator's 

 point of view, these breeds are of much interest. 



HOLSTEINS. 



Iowa breeders were out with a beautiful lot of Holsteins, and in 

 practically all the classes competition was keen. The showing of 

 younger stuff was especially gratifying. 



GUERNSEYS. 



While in a number of breed exhibits, breeders from other states 

 carried away more of the ribbons than we like to see taken, in the 

 Guernsey classes Iowa herds were out in force and captured most of 

 the desirable ribbons. 



Although there were five herds which sent representatives into the 

 show ring, the Jersey exhibit was not up to what it has been at some 

 former fairs. 



AYRSHIRES. 



Two herds of Ayrshires competed for the ribbons. The strong show 

 herd of Adam Seitz, Waukesha, Wis., carried off the lion's share of the 

 prizes. The entries of Wm. Galloway, Waterloo, Iowa, furnished good 

 competition in several of the classes. 



THE FAT STOCK. 



The Iowa Fair comes too early to bring out a large exhibit of fat 

 stock, but it furnishes an opportunity for feeders to try out some of 

 the competitors whom they will meet later on in the fat stock shows 

 proper, and this year there was a very creditable exhibit. 



THE HORSE SHOW. 



In a few classes, the horse show did not measure up to last year. 

 But the total number on exhibition will not fall far below that of 

 former years. A pleasing feature of the show was the large number of 

 small breeders in evidence, and some of their productions were awarded 

 first place in strong rings, containing good imported horses. This 

 should tend to encourage the American breeder, and should help in 

 convincing him that he can produce the best horses on our own soil. 

 The two-year-old stallion, Matador, of the Percheron class, was bred 

 and raised on an Iowa farm, and had the drafty form and qualities to 

 defeat a good stallion that won second prize in the Paris show this 



